New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-10
Versus IMPRACTICAL TEN
PERANCE

"The Voice" aThe Bar" Bonforts "Winc
and Spirit Circular" and other organs Of the
liquor interest are looking forward with joyful
anticipation to Governor Hills veto of the
High License bill. "The Voice " is, or de-
sires to be, thrd-party organ as well as u
temperance organ. and it's ambition in this d.
rcction has no doubt much to do with the
character of the company it is keeping at
present. But it is dcplorablc that any honest
and sincere friends of temperance reform
should shut their eyes to the utter inconsst-
ency and unrcason of the position in which
they are placed by their pcrvcrsc opposition
to High License. The advocates Of the latter
equally with the advocates of Prohibition
seek to restrict and diminish the drink evil
But the friends of High License undertake
only that which is practicable whereas the Pro-
hibitionists refuse all partial remedies and
insist on the ono which is urattainablc
The arguments uron which High License
is supported arc those which modern science
and philosophy approve most strongly. The
more VIC learn of nature and natural law the
more clearly we perceive that all movement
toward perfection is gradual all change upward
the result of slow processes. Civilization itself
accords at all points with these conclusions.
II has required long periods TO lift man from
the animal state to that of the savage; sill
further periods to carry him from savagcry 10
barbarism, and yet other ages to take him from
barbarism to his present condition. All
through this prolonged process Of evolution
he has been submitted TO the moulding infu.
cnce of external conditions. He has out
grown one defect after another. and in like
manner developed successive capacities. But
he has made no sudden leaps. Time, and
much time. has been Of the essence Of his
growth. The drink appetite, nurturcd by
thousands Of years of habit. has become rooted
in his system. Its elimination can only be
effected by time, patience and higher educa-
ton. Attempts TO force communities
that believe in drinking to stop it
have often been made but have never sue
cccdcd. The only real success Prohibition has
had has been with communities the majority
of which were ripe for the adoption Of total
abstinence. All experience shows that IN
great centres Of population it is necessary
to proceed gradually and cautiously in tenn
pcrancc reform; to gain little and hold it !;
to 90 forward step by step and to that end
High License is specially adapted.
The rational principle must be to proportion
the force and extent Of the reform movement
10 the force and extent Of the public opinion
which can alone sustain and realize it. All
efforts to cocrcc public opinion in a free conn
try must fail. Dragooning people into reforms
to which they have not been educated, for
which they arc not prepared. is waste Of en-
ergy Moreover all such experiments produce
reactions. which are discouraging and which
really hinder progress. In word, the consen.
Of the governed, as we have long been taught,
is the necessary foundation of all stable gov
crnment and the term government is. "a re-
CARDS tho principle, Interchangeable with law.
High License Is not solution Of the drink
problem but neither is Prohibition when ap-
piled TO unripe communities The virtue Of
High License consists in It's restraining and
educational effects. 1t is a first step toward
better things; an entrance into the path At
whose upper end shines Remuneration Of the
drink appetite. 1t will not do much; that is
conceded but ii will do something, and Pro
hibition which cannot be applied can clearly
do nothing. Reasonable friends Of temperance
ought, on these grounds, 20 support High Id
cense,